Hui-ting Xu | biophysical chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Hui-ting Xu | biophysical chemistry | Best Researcher Award

lecturer at Yancheng Teachers University, China

Dr. Hui-ting Xu, currently serving as a lecturer at Yancheng Teachers University, is an emerging scholar in the field of biophysics and molecular simulation. Born in 1997, she earned her Ph.D. from Beijing Normal University in 2023, demonstrating early promise in theoretical and computational research. Since joining academia, she has quickly established herself through her work on DNA conformational transitions, ion-specific interactions, and biophysical modeling. Her contributions are already being recognized across peer-reviewed publications, reflecting a strong trajectory in cutting-edge scientific inquiry.

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Education

Dr. Xu completed her doctoral studies in biophysics at Beijing Normal University in 2023, where she focused on advanced theoretical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. Her education was rooted in computational modeling, allowing her to gain expertise in the analysis of DNA behavior under various ionic and environmental conditions. This rigorous academic training laid a solid foundation for her contributions to the understanding of structural transitions in biomolecules.

Experience

Since 2023, Dr. Xu has held the position of lecturer at Yancheng Teachers University, where she is involved in both teaching and research. While her academic career is at an early stage, she has demonstrated substantial research capabilities, particularly in the computational biophysics domain. She also holds a professional membership with the Radiation Beam Technology Branch of the Chinese Nuclear Society, showcasing her interdisciplinary engagement and professional commitment. Despite limited formal project experience, her independent research productivity highlights her capacity for innovation and technical skill.

Research Interest

Dr. Xu’s research focuses on the theoretical study of biophysical systems, with a specialization in the interactions between DNA and metal ions, solvation dynamics, and conformational transitions of biomolecules. She is proficient in molecular dynamics tools like GROMACS, CHARMM, and NAMD, using them to model ionic atmospheres and sequence-specific effects on DNA. Her studies on the B-to-A conformational change in DNA, driven by base sequence and metal ion coordination, represent a novel perspective in molecular biology and physics.

Awards

Though Dr. Xu is still at an early stage in her career, her work has already positioned her as a strong candidate for prestigious recognitions such as the “Best Researcher Award.” Her impactful first-author publications and clear research vision distinguish her from many of her peers. She also holds six patents under process, which further underscores her innovative mindset and potential for translational impact in the life sciences.

Publications

Dr. Xu has authored several notable publications, including:

Xu H. et al. (2025). Ion-Specific Binding Law and DNA Conformation, Results in Chemistry, DOI:10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102290 – Cited by 8 articles.

Xu H. (2025). Solvation Effects on DNA Stability, Springer Proceedings in Physics, DOI:10.1007/978-3-030-80924-9_7 – Cited by 4 articles.

Xu H. (2021). Dynamic Modeling of Ionic Atmospheres Around DNA, Journal of Molecular Liquids, DOI:10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117781 – Cited by 13 articles.

Xu H. (2021). Sequence-Dependent DNA Structural Change, Journal of Molecular Liquids, DOI:10.1016/j.molliq.2021.115899 – Cited by 11 articles.

Xu H. (2020). Base-Sequence Regulation of B→A DNA Transitions, Chemical Physics Letters, DOI:10.1016/j.cplett.2020.137344 – Cited by 16 articles.

Co-author (2022). Conformational Transitions in DNA by Ca²+ Coordination, Springer Proceedings in Physics.

Co-author (2020). Electrostatic Modeling in DNA-Ion Interactions, Chinese Physics Letters, DOI:10.1088/0256-307x/37/8/088701 – Cited by 7 articles.
These publications reflect a consistent and specialized focus, with citation metrics showing her increasing impact within the scientific community.

Conclusion 

Given her strong academic foundation, impactful publications, innovative use of simulation tools, and commitment to solving complex problems in biophysics, Dr. Hui-ting Xu is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. Her contributions exemplify research excellence, innovation, and scientific leadership, making her an ideal recipient of this honor.

Fani Pantouli | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Fani Pantouli | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Post-Doctoral Fellow at Cleveland Clinic, United States

Dr. Fani Pantouli is a highly accomplished neuroscientist and biomedical researcher with over a decade of multidisciplinary experience in neuroscience, immunology, oncology, and pharmacology. With a career devoted to preclinical and translational studies, she has played a pivotal role in advancing therapeutic and vaccine research. Her work integrates in vivo and in vitro models, cellular and molecular assay design, immunophenotyping, and tumor modeling. Adept in laboratory innovation and scientific collaboration, Dr. Pantouli is recognized for her contributions to understanding complex disease mechanisms and developing safer, more effective therapeutic interventions. Her fluency in Greek and proficiency in English, along with foundational skills in German and French, reflect her international orientation and adaptability in global research initiatives.

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Education

Dr. Pantouli earned her PhD in Neuropharmacology from the University of Surrey and St. George’s University of London between 2014 and 2017. Her doctoral work focused on therapeutic approaches for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with groundbreaking investigations into oxytocin-based interventions. She holds a Master of Science in Molecular Neuroscience from the University of Bristol (2011) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biomedical Science from the University of Bedfordshire (2010). Complementing her formal education, she has undertaken professional development through courses such as Adaptive Immunity at Imperial College London, Good Clinical Practice certification, and statistical analysis in clinical research through the University of Cape Town.

Experience

Dr. Pantouli currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Vaccine Development at Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Research and Innovation Center. There, she investigates T-cell immunity, cytokine profiling, and vaccine efficacy using advanced in vitro models against SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and HMPV. She collaborates on a major ARPA-H funded project integrating AI tools for monoclonal antibody screening. Previously, as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the same institute’s Cancer Research Lab, she developed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma mouse models to study p53-targeted therapies. Her postdoctoral tenure at Scripps Research Institute spanned four years, where she contributed to the development of novel, side-effect-reducing opioid therapeutics through behavioral pharmacology, receptor screening, and drug metabolism profiling. Earlier academic roles include doctoral research at St. George’s University, where she explored molecular and behavioral aspects of ASD, and research technician roles in cardiovascular research at the University of Birmingham and the Academy of Athens.

Research Interest

Dr. Pantouli’s research interests span a spectrum of critical areas in biomedical science. She is passionate about exploring the neuropharmacology of social behavior disorders, with a focus on translational models for ASD and addiction. Her oncology research is centered on molecular mechanisms of tumor suppression, particularly the role of p53 in head and neck cancers. In immunology and virology, she is engaged in advancing personalized vaccine responses by decoding ethnic and cellular variability in immune reactions to viral pathogens. Across all areas, her goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets and improve clinical outcomes through precision medicine.

Award

While specific awards are not listed in her résumé, Dr. Pantouli’s consistent trajectory through prestigious research institutions, coupled with her leadership in high-impact projects funded by agencies like ARPA-H and her inclusion in peer-reviewed journals, demonstrates a sustained record of excellence and recognition by her scientific peers. Her nominations for publication in top-tier journals like Science and Biological Psychiatry further reflect her standing in the global research community.

Publications

Among Dr. Pantouli’s numerous contributions to scientific literature, the following are notable:

Pantouli, F., et al. (2025). COVID-19 Vaccination Enhances the Immunogenicity of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in the Elderly. Vaccines, 13(5), 531. Cited by 3.

Pantouli, F., et al. (2024). Acute, Chronic and Conditioned Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin in the Mu Opioid Receptor Knockout Mouse Model of Autism. Neuropsychopharmacology. Cited by 9.

Pantouli, F., et al. (2021). Comparison of Morphine, Oxycodone and the Biased MOR Agonist SR-17018 in Mouse Models of Pain. Neuropharmacology, 185. Cited by 17.

Grim, T. W., et al., incl. Pantouli, F. (2020). G Protein-Biased Agonist Reverses Morphine Tolerance. Neuropsychopharmacology, 45. Cited by 26.

Morel, C., et al., incl. Pantouli, F. (2018). Nicotinic Receptors and Dopamine Cell Activity in Stress-Nicotine Interplay. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(7), 1597–1605. Cited by 35.

Acevedo-Canabal, A., Pantouli, F., et al. (2021). Pharmacological Variety in Opioid Analgesics. Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Cited by 4.

Pantouli, F., et al. (Submitted). Generation of Antigen-Specific Paired Heavy-Light Chain Antibody Sequences Using LLMs. Science. Under review.

Conclusion

Dr. Fani Pantouli exemplifies scientific excellence with her multidisciplinary research spanning neuroscience, immunology, and oncology. Her ability to deliver translational breakthroughs—whether in vaccine development, cancer modeling, or ASD treatment—makes her a standout candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her contributions are not only academically impactful but also pave the way for tangible clinical advancements, aligning perfectly with the award’s vision of honoring transformative biomedical innovation.